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“‘I Didn’t Lobby, I Serve the People’ – Bayelsa’s New Deputy Governor Peter Akpe Speaks Out”.
The newly sworn-in Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Pastor Peter Akpe, has pledged to base his tenure on humility, service, and collective responsibility, declaring that his office is a mandate to serve the people, not a platform for personal gain.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Akpe made the declaration during a reception at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa, an event attended by political leaders, church representatives, family, and well-wishers from across the country.
Addressing the gathering, the deputy governor stressed that leadership should be guided by faith, accountability, and genuine concern for the welfare of the people.
“Public office should not be seen as a reward but as a burden of trust that demands sacrifice, discipline, and openness to counsel,” he said.
He encouraged the Christian community and citizens to remain steadfast in prayer and constructive engagement, noting that governance succeeds when leaders and followers work together.
“This responsibility did not come by my own doing. It is a privilege to serve Bayelsa, and I will do so with the fear of God, respect for the people, and a commitment to what is right,” Pastor Akpe stated.
Flanked by his wife, Dr. Favour Akpe, he clarified that he did not lobby for the position, describing his appointment as an act of God.
“I owe this state greater commitment, more listening, and more service. This office is not mine alone; it belongs to the people who believe in a better Bayelsa,” he said.
He added, “I have not sought to lobby for any position, including this one. Most of Bayelsa’s influential figures are present here today. In my life, it has always been God guiding people to act on my behalf. I’ve always said, ‘Lord, just do your own.’
“Some asked me what I was doing about this, and I replied, let the will of God prevail. You cannot enter a role God has not prepared you for. All glory goes to the Almighty.”
Akpe thanked Governor Douye Diri, the Bayelsa House of Assembly, and other stakeholders for placing their confidence in him.
“I sincerely appreciate the governor for granting me this privilege and recognizing my ability to shoulder greater responsibility. I also thank the House of Assembly and my constituency,” he said.
He assured Bayelsans that his focus would be on supporting policies that enhance livelihoods and strengthen institutions, noting that the overwhelming support he has received is a reminder of the expectations placed upon him.
Former Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Bayelsa Elders Council, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (retd.), praised Governor Diri for appointing Akpe, calling the decision wise and timely. He prayed for God’s blessings on the new deputy governor and urged Bayelsans to support him in driving sustainable development.
In separate goodwill messages, Secretary to the State Government Nimibofa Ayawei and House of Representatives member Mitema Obordor congratulated Akpe on behalf of the people of Bayelsa Central and East Senatorial Districts. They described him as a man of high competence and integrity with deep knowledge of governance, praying for wisdom and strength as he carries out his duties. Both pledged full support for the success of his tenure.
Former Deputy Governor Chief Peremoboere Ebebi, representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, said Akpe’s steady rise in public service came as no surprise, noting that his capacity and competence have always distinguished him. Ebebi recalled Akpe’s successful tenure as Head of Administration under his leadership and expressed confidence that Governor Diri’s choice would foster a productive partnership in steering Bayelsa State’s affairs.
The Federal Government has secured the conviction of 653 individuals facing terrorism-related charges in the ongoing mass trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, disclosed this on Friday while addressing journalists after attending some of the court proceedings, Naija News reports.
Fagbemi revealed that approximately 880 cases had been determined since the latest phase of the mass trial commenced. Of those tried, seven defendants were acquitted, while 27 others were discharged.
However, he explained that the exercise was still in progress and that the final figures would be announced after the proceedings had been concluded.
“We are not through with the trial, but as at 12:15pm today, we had about 880 tried. Of the 880, 653 have been convicted, seven acquitted and 27 discharged,” the minister said.
The AGF added that the comprehensive figures would be released after the exercise ended the following day.
Fagbemi described the ongoing proceedings as one of the largest mass trials conducted since the process began. He attributed the progress recorded to the cooperation and guidance provided by the judges presiding over the cases.
“And if you also observe, this appears to be the largest since we started; and this is due to the cooperation and guidance we received from my lord and the judges who sat,” he stated.
The minister commended the judiciary, prosecution lawyers and defence counsel for their roles in ensuring the proceedings proceeded smoothly.
He also recognised the contributions of relevant government agencies and other stakeholders involved in the trial.
Meanwhile, Fagbemi dismissed claims that journalists had been prevented from covering the court proceedings.
Canada granted refugee protection to 7,643 Nigerians between January 2024 and June 2026, according to data from the country’s Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), Naija News understands.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
However, Canadian authorities rejected 3,080 asylum applications submitted by Nigerians during the same period.
Data from the IRB showed that Nigerians recorded the highest number of successful refugee protection claims among African nationals over the 30-month period.
The figures also placed Nigeria among the leading countries worldwide in terms of successful asylum applications in Canada, according to a report by The Punch.
The data revealed that Canada approved 2,230 Nigerian asylum applications in 2024. The figure increased by 55 per cent to 3,463 in 2025, while another 1,950 Nigerians secured refugee protection in the first six months of 2026.
Meanwhile, 3,080 applications from Nigerians were rejected, while another 1,530 cases were either withdrawn or abandoned.
This brought the total number of Nigerian asylum cases concluded between January 2024 and June 2026 to 12,253.
Nigeria Leads African Countries In Successful Asylum Claims
The breakdown showed that Nigeria recorded more successful asylum applications than any other African country in 2025.
Uganda followed with 2,089 approved applications, while Kenya recorded 1,532 and Ethiopia had 1,522. Ghana ranked next with 1,084 successful claims.
Other African countries included the Democratic Republic of Congo, with 732 approvals; Cameroon, with 742; and Rwanda, with 710.
The trend continued in the first half of 2026, when 1,950 Nigerians received refugee protection. Kenya recorded 703 approvals, Ghana had 603, while Uganda recorded 521.
Ethiopia secured 378 successful claims, compared with 412 for the Democratic Republic of Congo, 389 for Rwanda and 300 for Cameroon.
Across the full 30-month period, Uganda recorded 3,943 successful claims, followed by Kenya with 3,888, Ethiopia with 2,982 and Ghana with 2,000.
The Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 1,867 approvals, while Rwanda had 1,699 and Cameroon recorded 1,643.
Thousands Of Nigerian Asylum Claims Rejected
Despite the high number of successful applications, thousands of Nigerians were denied refugee protection in Canada during the period.
The IRB data showed that 3,080 Nigerian claims were rejected, the highest number among the African countries listed.
The Democratic Republic of Congo followed with 1,230 rejected applications, while Ghana recorded 885 and Kenya had 639.
Senegal recorded 595 rejections, Angola had 442, while Chad and Cameroon each recorded 343.
In 2024, the board concluded 3,249 Nigerian cases, approving 2,230 applications and rejecting 811. The remaining cases were withdrawn or abandoned.
The number of concluded cases involving Nigerians rose to 5,039 in 2025. Of these, 3,463 applications, representing 68.7 per cent, were approved, while 1,377 were rejected.
During the first six months of 2026, Canada concluded 3,965 Nigerian cases, granting refugee protection to 1,950 applicants and rejecting 892.
Canada Faces Growing Asylum Backlog
The figures also point to mounting pressure on Canada’s refugee determination system, with thousands of Nigerians awaiting decisions on their applications.
As of December 31, 2024, the IRB had 19,889 Nigerian cases awaiting decisions. The backlog was almost six times the number of Nigerian cases concluded during that year.
The pressure continued in 2025, when Canada received 107,802 new refugee claim referrals to its Refugee Protection Division.
By December 31, 2025, a total of 299,614 refugee claims involving applicants from different countries remained pending.
Globally, Canada concluded 79,462 refugee claims in 2025, granting protection to 50,067 applicants and rejecting 14,619.
The 3,463 successful Nigerian applications accounted for 6.9 per cent of all refugee claims approved worldwide that year.
In the first half of 2026, the board approved 22,109 of the 49,960 refugee claims concluded globally. The 1,950 successful Nigerian applications represented 8.8 per cent of all refugee protection grants during that period.
Across the entire 30-month period, Canada concluded 202,878 refugee claims involving applicants from various countries. Of these, 118,656 were approved, while 34,546 were rejected.
The 7,643 successful Nigerian applications accounted for 6.4 per cent of all refugee protection grants worldwide during the period.
African countries collectively received an estimated 35,000 grants, representing approximately 29.5 per cent of the global total. Nigerians accounted for roughly one in every five successful refugee protection claims involving African nationals.
How Canada Processes Asylum Applications
Canada’s refugee determination system is administered by the Immigration and Refugee Board, an independent federal body established under the country’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
The board’s Refugee Protection Division is responsible for hearing and deciding asylum claims made within Canada or at its ports of entry.
Under the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention, applicants may qualify for protection if they face persecution in their home countries because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group.
Canada also considers claims from individuals who could face torture, death or cruel and unusual punishment if returned to their countries of origin.
Applicants are required to provide evidence supporting their claims. They can request protection through the Canada Border Services Agency at a port of entry or approach an immigration officer after entering the country.
According to guidance from the Refugee Protection Division, eligible applications are referred for a decision.
Applicants whose claims are rejected may appeal to the Refugee Appeal Division if they qualify. Those who are unsuccessful may seek a judicial review at the Federal Court or apply for a pre-removal risk assessment, which provides another opportunity to demonstrate the risks they could face if returned to their home countries.
The Federal Government has announced that the Ebola patient in Nigeria is showing signs of recovery, while maintaining that there is currently no evidence of community transmission.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to reports, the Federal Ministry of Health provided the update in a statement shared on its official X handle on Friday.
The ministry stated that health authorities were continuing to monitor the situation and had intensified measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
“The Federal Government has provided an update on the confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria, reporting that the patient is showing signs of recovery. There is currently no evidence of community spread.
“Contact tracing, quarantine and monitoring continue, alongside strengthened national coordination, health facility preparedness and public health measures,” the ministry stated.
The government also urged Nigerians to observe recommended safety precautions, obtain information from recognised health authorities and refrain from circulating unverified reports about the outbreak.
The latest update comes days after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosed that the patient, a Ugandan-born woman, had developed multiple organ failure following an Ebola infection.
The NCDC also revealed that 44 contacts had been identified for monitoring as part of efforts to contain the disease.
Authorities confirmed that the patient was infected with the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, the same strain associated with the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Currently, there are no specific approved vaccines or treatments for this strain.
Providing further details about the patient, Switzerland’s foreign ministry disclosed that she was the wife of a Swiss staff member working at the country’s embassy in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
In a statement, the Swiss authorities said the woman had been receiving treatment at a private hospital in Abuja for approximately one week.
“The Swiss woman, who is symptomatic, has been hospitalised for about a week at a private clinic in Abuja,” the statement read.
The Swiss foreign ministry added that the woman may have contracted the virus during a visit to Uganda approximately two weeks before her infection was identified.
Her husband, who accompanied her on the trip, has been placed in isolation but has reportedly shown no symptoms of the disease.
“The infection may have occurred during a trip to Uganda approximately two weeks ago,” the statement added.
“Her husband is in isolation; he has shown no symptoms. He accompanied his wife on the trip, during which she is believed to have contracted the Ebola virus,” the Swiss authorities stated.
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